Arvind-Pal S. Mandair

Arvind-Pal S. Mandair is a Professor in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Michigan. He holds the Tara Singh and Balwant Kaur Chattha, Gurbax Singh and Kirpal Kaur Brar Professor of Sikh Studies and serves as Associate Faculty in Asian/Pacific Islander American (A/PIA) Studies. His academic work bridges Global Philosophies, Postcolonial Theory, and Religious Studies, with a focus on Sikh and South Asian traditions.

• Education: Ph.D. and MA in Philosophy/Religion (University of Warwick, UK, 1999); Ph.D. and B.Sc. in Chemistry (University of Aston, CNAA, 1989)

Key research areas include cross-cultural philosophy, decolonial theory, consciousness studies, and the intersections of religion and politics. He founded the journal Sikh Formations: Religion, Culture and Theory and co-edits book series on Critical Sikh Studies and Translation and Religion.

His recent publications explore themes such as the Śabad in Sikh philosophy, diasporic identities, and sociopolitical dimensions of Sikh thought. He has also authored influential works like Violence and the Sikhs (2022) and Sikh Philosophy (2022), which interrogate colonial legacies and modern theological frameworks.

Mandair’s teaching integrates neuroscience, spirituality, and political theory, particularly in courses like Race, Religion and Caste in India and the USA and Exploring Consciousness. He co-founded the Geophilosophies project, which pluralizes philosophical inquiry beyond Eurocentric paradigms.